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Does birthday party planning stress you out?

Do you ever feel like planning your kid's birthday party
is even more involved and stressful than planning your wedding was? I
know I sure do. I mean, my son's birthday isn't until March -- and he's
already talking about his party and where he wants to have it and all
that jazz.

And while it's easy to brush off the subject when we have quite a few months to go before our kids' birthdays -- the date usually creeps up on us
before we know it. That's why it's so important to make sure you know
when to start the party planning -- and what things you need to add to
your to-do list.

Here's a great basic timeline to follow to make
sure your child's birthday is one he/she will never forget -- and that
the party isn't something that will put you over the edge.

2 months prior to your child's birthday:

Pick a party theme -- This is a great place to start
because it will then help you determine whether it's best to have the
party at your home or at some other location (where they clean up
everything for you -- total plus).

Select the venue -- Jumping off picking the theme --
if the party will not occur in your home or backyard, it's time to
start scouting locations to make sure there are dates available on or
around your child's big day. (From my experience, most places tend to
book parties months in advance. Make sure to call at least eight weeks
prior if you plan on having the party at a bowling alley, skating rink,
bounce house place, etc.)

Set a date -- This one is self-explanatory and kind of important.

Make a guest list -- Decide how many kids you want
to have at the party, and then sit down with your child and make a list
of who he/she wants to invite. And if you're not inviting the whole
class, make sure to instruct your child to keep the party under wraps at
school. (Trust me.)

1 month prior to the party:

Sendinvitations -- If you mail
them out any earlier, there's a good chance they'll get lost amid
people's piles of mail and papers. Sending them a month out makes it
less likely that parents will toss them aside and vow to "RSVP later."

Make a supply list -- If you're having a party
somewhere other than your home, chances are all you'll need is a cake
and party favor bags. But if the bash is going down at your place,
you'll want to make sure to have a plan in place as far as food, drinks,
decorations, balloons, and other essential party supplies.

2 weeks before the party:

Shop 'til you drop -- Gifts, party favors, supplies, decorations -- now is the time to pick up everything except for the food.

Order the cake -- If you're planning on going the store-bought route, of course.

1 week before the party:

Confirm attendees -- Yes, there will be quite a few
guests who do not RSVP. Make sure to call or email them so you can get
an accurate head count of how many kids will be attending.

Assemble favor bags -- It's so much easier to get
this done ahead of time rather than sitting on your living room floor
trying to stuff the favor bags the night before the party. You'll thank
yourself on the day of for being so organized.

3 to 4 days prior:

Go grocery shopping -- This only applies if the
party is being held at your home. Going shopping a few days in advance
will save you a lot of stress versus trying to pick up all of the party
food the day before or the day of. This way you have more time to get
things organized and plan what time things are going in and out of the
oven, on the grill, etc.

The day before the big day:

Pick up the cake -- After several years of picking
it up the morning of the party and having it either a) not finished, or
b) messed up, I've learned to ALWAYS have a buffer day in case something
goes wrong with the cake. This is one area you can't afford to screw
up!

Clean the house -- The last thing you want is guests
showing up to a huge mess. (Even though they'll come in and trash your
place and you'll have to clean it up again after the party is over.)

Decorate -- Unless the party is a surprise, go ahead
and get everything you need to make your home fit the party theme up a
day ahead of time. This way you can focus on the actual party the next
morning.

Take a deep breath -- Yes, birthday parties are
stressful. But your kid is going to have a blast and won't notice if
some tiny last minute detail isn't exactly perfect. You did a great job
-- so put your feet up and give yourself a pat on the back!

Send me email updates about messages I've received on the site and the latest news from The CafeMom Team.
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